ISLAND OF DESIRE: REJECTED HEIRESS
This time, they were not just the heavy stone‑skin shapes we knew new forms joined them: slimmer, taller, grey‑shade skin like smoke‑mixed rock, moving faster, gliding close to walls, silent as drifting dust.
“Smoke‑Stalkers,” Kael named them grimly. “More clever, harder to hit and they love narrow spaces.”
Alexus instantly formed us into tight wedge formation: he led one side, Kael the other, protecting Maya and Marco and me in centre.
“Fire works but steady, coordinated light works better,” he reminded.
As first Stalker slid out like fluid darkness, we advanced together torches extended outward, glowing triangle between us burning stronger. Every time they tried to slip between or flank, o